Which is the Best Car Battery Brand?

nishantgandhi · 16th May 2009, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

You haven't mentioned if other things were working - power windows, music system, lights, etc?? Just check all this if you dont have a multimeter, etc...

Yes other things that you mentioned are working perfectly fine.

I called the BatMobile service of Exide yesterday. They checked my battery with a hydrometer and found that there was no water in any of the cells. Partly my fault, as I should have checked it. And partly my service center's fault, since I had given the car for servicing 2-3 months ago and I had assumed that they would take care.

Anyways, we filled battery water and also checked the cranking voltage at start up. Its giving out 6.5-7.5 volts on start up, as against 11.5 volts that is required. So I guess its time for a battery change!

Called up dealers and got quotes. Surprisingly, all three preferred brands i.e. Amaron Pro, Tata Green Titanium and Bosch Silver cost almost the same i.e. Rs 4,800-4,900 post discount and buy back of old battery. Warranty terms are also the same i.e. 30+30 months (First 30 months is free replacement and next 30 months is replacement with pro-rata depreciation).

Confused as to which battery to go for? Some dealers say that Amaron after sales is not good. Some tell me that Tata Batteries have leakage problems. Bosch seems to have no negative reviews so far, but I am still a bit inclined towards Amaron. Please advise.

Raccoon · 16th May 2009, 17:37

If you let the plates be exposed to air, then your battery is doomed.

Anyway, I'd tell you the same again - go for Amaron or BOSCH. You may have heard of less negatives about BOSCH as they currently have a pretty small market share.

Is the BOSCH battery totally sealed btw? Don't belive dealers when they say maintainence free. For me maintainence free = totally sealed. Should have no filler caps. Its a different technology, btw.

Why risk leakage problems and maintainence hassles with Tata??

nishantgandhi · 16th May 2009, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

If you let the plates be exposed to air, then your battery is doomed.

Anyway, I'd tell you the same again - go for Amaron or BOSCH. You may have heard of less negatives about BOSCH as they currently have a pretty small market share.

Is the BOSCH battery totally sealed btw? Don't belive dealers when they say maintainence free. For me maintainence free = totally sealed. Should have no filler caps. Its a different technology, btw.

Why risk leakage problems and maintainence hassles with Tata??

Yes, all three batteries are factory sealed. As I have been told, no battery brand is totally maintainence free in practice. Some require topping up once a year, some 3-4 months.

The one that you are mentioning are maybe the more expensive ones like Optima Yellow/Red top. Ofcourse, they also cost double (or more) compared to the models listed above.

TRAUMASURG · 16th May 2009, 18:25

It is a very interesting thread.There is a lot of different opinions.there are few posts which mentioned that all the batteries are same.IMHO,thay are not.There are different batteries for different use in automotive industry.what you need is a good quality battery.These days the newer cars has so much electronics that drains the battery constantly.if you live in a cold climate region ,one definetely needs a battery with good CCA i.e. cold cranking ampere.at least 980 or more.If the battery runs down below certain voltage,the battery dies very quickly.The good brand are optima,odyssey,interstate(available in US).
i have the following vehicles at home .1987 mer benz 300SDL,1988 mer benz 560Sl,2003 MB SL55AMG,G500,C3204MATIC,2008 F430SPIDER, for daily use in the summer i drive sl55 and on weekends if weather is good i take out my f430sp,or 560sl or the diesel, in winter i use g500 .my wife uses c320.as a daily driver..What i have done is that since i am not using my fleet on a daily basis ,i attach a trickle charger /battery maintainer,check out ..Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs to all the cars when they are not in use so the batteries are all in top condition...i have 90k miles on my g500 ,40k miles on sl55 still with original batteries

Raccoon · 16th May 2009, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by nishantgandhi

Yes, all three batteries are factory sealed. As I have been told, no battery brand is totally maintainence free in practice. Some require topping up once a year, some 3-4 months.

The one that you are mentioning are maybe the more expensive ones like Optima Yellow/Red top. Ofcourse, they also cost double (or more) compared to the models listed above.

MOST IMPORTANT - Don't belive what you are told. Just see the battery personally.

You get totally sealed batts from Amaron at least. Price will be a higher, but it should not be much. Please confirm this... or hopefully others here with more recent info will help.

Btw, unless you know already, BOSCH battries are said to be made by Amaron. Though that does not necessarily mean they are same.

Btw, when I mean sealed, it means TOTALLY sealed. No opening to put anything in or take anything out. So no leakage. If the battery has any filler caps its *NOT* sealed. That means at least the Tata green is definitely not sealed. The term "factory sealed" is not quite applicable here, btw.

Ricky_63 · 16th May 2009, 20:46

AMARON by far is the safest bet. I have used it on numerous vehicles & never faced a problem.

Cheers

gowda79 · 16th May 2009, 20:52

Amaron
Exide

These two brands are safer to be used in our vehicles.

Raccoon · 17th May 2009, 01:29

Exide is the *unsafest* to use. Likely to leak and will very likely die soon. Gosh, I hate it so much, I don't even tire saying this... lol!!!

randy · 17th May 2009, 09:41

can any suggest a battery for UNO diesel - would prefer Amaron - I am lost in the DINs AHs.

Ricky_63 · 17th May 2009, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowda79

Amaron
Exide

These two brands are safer to be used in our vehicles.

I beg to differ. Exide quality is pathetic. It packs up usually just post one year. That is just post warranty period.

Cheers

Roy.S · 17th May 2009, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

The result being that this wretched, despicable battery corroded the paint and metal parts around it.....

I have had exactly the same experience with the same bike and battery in the late 90s. Why they would keep producing such an inferior product even a decade later is beyond me.
My '03 M800 came with a SF battery which I hated. It packed up after 27 months. I replaced it with an basic green Amaron which gave me no trouble at all till I sold the car 2 yrs later.
My Swift came with an Amaron. This seems to be the best choice at the moment, though I have heard good things about Bosch.

Raccoon · 17th May 2009, 15:15

^^^The answer is simple - because it sells!!! A LOT of people still think Exide is the best. Exide also seems to have the most dealers... so its easiest to get. I guess they are now just basking in the glory of yesteryears... and doing it profitably.

It seems quite clear now that they deliberately design their batterys to fail just after the warranty period. If you are very lucky it will JUST fail... just have a thanksgiving prayer that it didn't destroy your car or bike's interiors before it kicked the bucket.

hariharanea · 17th May 2009, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

^^^The answer is simple - because it sells!!! A LOT of people still think Exide is the best. Exide also seems to have the most dealers... so its easiest to get. I guess they are now just basking in the glory of yesteryears... and doing it profitably.

with Raccoon. I will go with Amaron any day!! I had it installed in my bikes and earlier cars. I had not issues with this brand so far. Though I use to check the batteries whenever I leave my vehicle for service.

gpa · 18th May 2009, 11:24

Hi guys,

My Santro's battery needs replacement. It was an OEM Exide that's lasted 54,000+ kms and 4 years+.

Of late, cold craking has become a little laborious, with a strained feeling when being craked. I put this down to the age of the battery.

As I plan to replace it with an Amaron, I need your inputs on a good dealer here in Bangalore where I can change it. Have seen a few Exide shops stock Amaron, but the boxes were faded which meant they had old stock and hence I steered clear of them.

Need your inputs on where I can find a good dealer in Bangalore for Amaron.

Thanks in advance,
gpa

nishantgandhi · 18th May 2009, 13:20

Can someone post details of Amaron dealer for Mumbai? Preferably Dadar/Chembur?

16th May 2009, 17:37	#257
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	If you let the plates be exposed to air, then your battery is doomed. Anyway, I'd tell you the same again - go for Amaron or BOSCH. You may have heard of less negatives about BOSCH as they currently have a pretty small market share. Is the BOSCH battery totally sealed btw? Don't belive dealers when they say maintainence free. For me maintainence free = totally sealed. Should have no filler caps. Its a different technology, btw. Why risk leakage problems and maintainence hassles with Tata?? Last edited by Raccoon : 16th May 2009 at 17:40.
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 18:25	#259
TRAUMASURG BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MASSENA, NY. Posts: 87 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	It is a very interesting thread.There is a lot of different opinions.there are few posts which mentioned that all the batteries are same.IMHO,thay are not.There are different batteries for different use in automotive industry.what you need is a good quality battery.These days the newer cars has so much electronics that drains the battery constantly.if you live in a cold climate region ,one definetely needs a battery with good CCA i.e. cold cranking ampere.at least 980 or more.If the battery runs down below certain voltage,the battery dies very quickly.The good brand are optima,odyssey,interstate(available in US). i have the following vehicles at home .1987 mer benz 300SDL,1988 mer benz 560Sl,2003 MB SL55AMG,G500,C3204MATIC,2008 F430SPIDER, for daily use in the summer i drive sl55 and on weekends if weather is good i take out my f430sp,or 560sl or the diesel, in winter i use g500 .my wife uses c320.as a daily driver..What i have done is that since i am not using my fleet on a daily basis ,i attach a trickle charger /battery maintainer,check out ..Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs to all the cars when they are not in use so the batteries are all in top condition...i have 90k miles on my g500 ,40k miles on sl55 still with original batteries
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 20:46	#261
Ricky_63 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,880 Thanked: 520 Times View My Garage	AMARON by far is the safest bet. I have used it on numerous vehicles & never faced a problem. Cheers
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 20:52	#262
gowda79 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,475 Thanked: 195 Times View My Garage	Amaron Exide These two brands are safer to be used in our vehicles.
	() Thanks

17th May 2009, 01:29	#263
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	Anything is Better than EXIDE!!! Exide is the unsafest to use. Likely to leak and will very likely die soon. Gosh, I hate it so much, I don't even tire saying this... lol!!!
	() Thanks

17th May 2009, 09:41	#264
randy Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	can any suggest a battery for UNO diesel - would prefer Amaron - I am lost in the DINs AHs.
	() Thanks

17th May 2009, 15:15	#267
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	^^^The answer is simple - because it sells!!! A LOT of people still think Exide is the best. Exide also seems to have the most dealers... so its easiest to get. I guess they are now just basking in the glory of yesteryears... and doing it profitably. It seems quite clear now that they deliberately design their batterys to fail just after the warranty period. If you are very lucky it will JUST fail... just have a thanksgiving prayer that it didn't destroy your car or bike's interiors before it kicked the bucket. Last edited by Raccoon : 17th May 2009 at 15:20.
	() Thanks

18th May 2009, 11:24	#269
gpa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,795 Thanked: 366 Times	Amaron Dealer in Bangalore Hi guys, My Santro's battery needs replacement. It was an OEM Exide that's lasted 54,000+ kms and 4 years+. Of late, cold craking has become a little laborious, with a strained feeling when being craked. I put this down to the age of the battery. As I plan to replace it with an Amaron, I need your inputs on a good dealer here in Bangalore where I can change it. Have seen a few Exide shops stock Amaron, but the boxes were faded which meant they had old stock and hence I steered clear of them. Need your inputs on where I can find a good dealer in Bangalore for Amaron. Thanks in advance, gpa
	() Thanks

18th May 2009, 13:20	#270
nishantgandhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,223 Thanked: 156 Times	Can someone post details of Amaron dealer for Mumbai? Preferably Dadar/Chembur?
	() Thanks